The King Must Die by Mary Renault

This novel is a historical fiction that reimagines the myth of Theseus, a young man who believes he is the son of Poseidon. He grows up in the palace of his mother's husband, King Pittheus of Troizen, but later ventures out to discover his true father. His journey leads him to Athens, where he overthrows the cruel King Minos, and to Crete, where he becomes a bull-leaper and eventually kills the monstrous Minotaur. The book explores themes of destiny, heroism, and the struggle between old and new religious practices.

The 2763rd greatest book of all time


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Total Points: 135

Since this book was first published in 1958, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 135.0.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.